Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
May 31, 2015

One senior Cabinet minister had condescendingly dubbed it a “coronation”, while revealing that he had no plans of attending it.However, the position taken by the outspoken Business Minister Donville Inniss certainly did not stop Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and some other colleagues from attending yesterday’s installation of Sir Hilary Beckles as the eighth Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Inniss had recently taken issue with the cost of the ceremony, which he estimated at a million Barbados dollars. However, the UWI quickly sought to clarify that the price tag for the installation was really in the order of $333, 000.

Despite Inniss’ stern warning that the UWI was sending the wrong message, particularly since its officials had been complaining of financial pressure on the back of the Government’s decision to ask Barbadian students attending the three UWI campuses to pay their own tuition costs, the Chairman of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Perry Christie and the leader of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves were also in attendance, so too several top officials of the university, along with past and present students.

Here are some of the highlights of yesterday’s installation ceremony, which took place at UWI, Cave Hill.

Chancellor of the UWI Sir George Alleyne and Prime Minister Freundel Stuart lead the procession of officials.Several academics and students were in attendance.Saturday’s installation ceremony carried a price tag of $333, 000.Prime Minister Freundel Stuart in conversation with businessman Paul Altman and Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley.Housing Minister Denis Kellman was also in attendance. Here he is warmly greeted by Sir Hilary.From left, Prime Ministers Freundel Stuart, Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Perry Christie, along with Chancellor Sir George Alleyne, Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles and former Chancellor Sir Shridath Ramphal.Chancellor Emeritus Sir Shridath Ramphal, left, in conversation with Chancellor Sir George Alleyne.Veteran calypsonian Gabby was among the performers.